WOOD PEWEE, 419 



WOOD PEWEE. 



CONTOPUS VIRENS. 



Char. Upper parts olive bruwn, darker on the head; lower parts 

 whitish, with dull yellow tinge ; sides pale olive, extending across the 

 breast ; tail and wings dusky ; wings with bars of whitish. Head with 

 inconspicuous crest. Length 6 to 6% inches. 



Nest. On branch of a tree ; of twigs and grass, covered e.xteriorly 

 with lichens and lined with moss. 



Eggs. 3-4 ; creamy white with spots of brown and lilac wreathed 

 about the larger end; 0.75 X 0.55. 



This species has much the appearance of the common Pewit 

 Flycatcher, but differs essentially by its note and habits. The 

 Wood Pewee appears generally to winter south of the United 

 States, and scarcely arrives in Pennsylvania or New England 

 before the middle of May ; its migrations, in all probability, 

 extend to Canada. According to Audubon, many of them 

 winter in the southern extremity of the United States, and Mr. 

 Townsend and myself frequently saw them in the dark forests 

 of the Oregon. It is a solitary species, frequenting gloomy 

 forests and dark orchards, where, watching on some dead and 

 projecting branch for its insect prey, it sweeps at intervals 

 amidst the shade, and the occasional snapping of its bill an- 

 nounces the success of its flight. It then again alights as 

 before, sometimes uttering a sort of gratulatory low twitter, 

 accompanied by a quivering of the wings and tail ; and in the 

 lapse of its employment, in a feeble, sighing tone, often cries 

 pee-wee or pee-e, and sometimes pe-wee pewittitee or privittce 

 pe-wee. This note is continued often till quite late in the 

 evening, at which time many of the insect brood and moths 

 are abundant. Most of these birds, indeed, appear capable of 

 collecting their food by the feeblest light, the only season when 

 some of their favorite prey ever stir abroad. This species also 

 appears particularly fond of small wild bees. From June to 

 September, its solitary notes are heard in the field and forest ; 

 after which time, preparing for its departure, and intently glean- 

 ing food in every situation, it sometimes approaches the city, 



